So the lovely Aminta Arrington, author of Home is a Roof Over a Pig, was kind enough to comment on my review of her book this morning. She provided a link to her website, which has the photos I was wishing I could see while reading. While I was there, I absently wandered over to her page that listed appearances, and, lo and behold! she was appearing in Seattle, three blocks down the street from me, today!
So of course I went down to the Elliott Bay Book Company and got to meet Ms. Arrington. She was very kind, asked about my blog and chatted for a bit. There were only about ten or fifteen people there and she read selections from the first chapter of the book and then opened the floor for questions. While she was reading, she had a presentation of pictures of places she read about which was nice. After taking questions, she signed books for everyone.
All in all it was great fun and it was very nice to be able to put a face and a voice to the "lady in the book." With all the coincidences that led to me being there, it was certainly in the stars too!
And I just want, again, to recommend her book, which was superb and which I think everyone should read, if only for the purpose of better understanding our neighbors to the east.
Here is the book on Goodreads and on Amazon as well as a link to Ms. Arrington's well-constructed website.
Showing posts with label Amazon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amazon. Show all posts
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Book Review: The Unconquered
DETAILS: The Unconquered: In Search of the Amazon's Last Uncontacted Tribes by Scott Wallace. Copyright 2011. Adventure non-fiction.
SUMMARY: In 2002, National Geographic writer Scott Wallace and a group of thirty-four men, led by the director of Brazil's National Indian Foundation and comprised of a smattering of indigenous tribes of the Amazon as well as some adventurers, went in search of information about the flechieros, the People of the Arrow, one of the last uncontacted tribes of the Amazon.
PROS: I am still in awe of this book. This may be one of the best books I've ever read. I was a little concerned going in because as much as my Western curiosity wants to read about the "wild" Indians (and in this book they are referred to as Indians, not "Native Brazilians" or anything, so I will use that here), I know that contacting them, no matter how pure-intentioned the gesture may be, will almost certainly prove detrimental to their physical, emotional and social well-being. This book alleviated all those concerns. It combines the action, adventure, hardship of a early 1900's exploration of the Amazon with modern-day realizations and sensibilities regarding the Indians.
CONS: None.
BOTTOM LINE: This book is incredible and I would recommend it to anyone who is at all interested in this subject. Five stars out of five.
SUMMARY: In 2002, National Geographic writer Scott Wallace and a group of thirty-four men, led by the director of Brazil's National Indian Foundation and comprised of a smattering of indigenous tribes of the Amazon as well as some adventurers, went in search of information about the flechieros, the People of the Arrow, one of the last uncontacted tribes of the Amazon.
PROS: I am still in awe of this book. This may be one of the best books I've ever read. I was a little concerned going in because as much as my Western curiosity wants to read about the "wild" Indians (and in this book they are referred to as Indians, not "Native Brazilians" or anything, so I will use that here), I know that contacting them, no matter how pure-intentioned the gesture may be, will almost certainly prove detrimental to their physical, emotional and social well-being. This book alleviated all those concerns. It combines the action, adventure, hardship of a early 1900's exploration of the Amazon with modern-day realizations and sensibilities regarding the Indians.
CONS: None.
BOTTOM LINE: This book is incredible and I would recommend it to anyone who is at all interested in this subject. Five stars out of five.
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